How to Make a Skirt Bigger

It happens to the best of us. You go to put on your favorite skirt, and it’s just a little too small. Maybe it fits in the waist but was too tight in the hips. Or it was the perfect size for the waistline but was too short. Whether you’ve gained a few pounds or it’s shrunk in the wash, there are ways to make a skirt bigger. Here are some easy methods to expand your skirt so you can feel comfortable and confident again.

Let out the seams

This is the easiest way to make a skirt bigger. If the skirt has side seams, start by unpicking the stitches at the seam allowance (the extra fabric that’s there to give the garment shape). Once the stitches are gone, you should be able to pull the fabric out a little bit, giving you some extra room in the waist. If the skirt has a center-back seam, you can do the same thing there. Just be careful not to make the skirt too big – you don’t want it falling off!

Add some fabric

If letting out the seams doesn’t give you enough room, you can try adding some fabric to the waistband. Cut a strip of fabric that’s about 2 inches wide and as long as your waist, plus 2 inches. Fold the strip in half lengthwise and sew it along the raw edge to the top of your skirt, matching up the raw edges with the raw edge of your skirt. This will give you some extra coverage in the front and back, and it’ll also add a little bit of stretch to help get the skirt over your hips.

Use a wider waistband

This is a good option if you don’t want to mess with adding fabric or if you’re low on fabric, to begin with. Simply cut off the existing waistband and replace it with a wider one. You can use bias tape, Twill tape, or even ribbon—whatever you have on hand that’s wide enough to go around your waist plus 1 inch for seam allowances. Just be sure to leave enough slack in the waistband, so it doesn’t dig into your skin when you sit down!

There’s nothing worse than putting on your favorite skirt only to find that it’s too tight. But don’t fret – by letting out the seams or adding some fabric to the waistband, you can easily expand your skirt, so it fits comfortably again. And who knows? You might even end up with a new favorite garment in the process!